Which combi boiler, that is the question?

[solutions]

I'd love to see the manufacturers all agree to publish their reliability stats.

With other products, we can see the returns-in-warranty data, and therefore base decisions on hard facts. For example, I have published on here our warranty returns data on controls and a couple of other products.

I agree, however that would still only be a fraction of the story. It would not take in to account out of warranty repairs or repairs undertaken independently that may not be reported to the manufacturer and how could the manufacturer effectively determin whether a part failure was manufacturing, material issue or poor install without every faulty part being sent back.

 

[Ray Stafford]

I agree, however that would still only be a fraction of the story. It would not take in to account out of warranty repairs or repairs undertaken independently that may not be reported to the manufacturer and how could the manufacturer effectively determin whether a part failure was manufacturing, material issue or poor install without every faulty part being sent back.

A fair point. However, with boiler warranties now extending to a gazzillion years, it would at least be a starting point.

 

[Mike Jackson]

I tend to favour the boiler manufacturers that give me the best support on a good product. I used to like fitting Worcester but as I didn't fit enough to qualify as a platinum installer I lose out to the firms that fit loads and can offer the longer warranties. This annoys me because it means that they are just pushing for sales rather than quality installs.

I'm an accredited installer for Atag and Intergas boilers not because I fit hundreds of them but because I have been on their training courses and made the effort to learn about their products.

I also don't like working on WB they are pain to work on and as someone else pointed out a plastic manifold on a premium product is a step too far.

 

[Ray Stafford]

I'm an accredited installer for Atag and Intergas boilers not because I fit hundreds of them but because I have been on their training courses and made the effort to learn about their products.

And this is why the best solution is often to choose your installer, and then be guided by them on the product.

An Intergas or Atag boiler fitted by Mike will be a better boiler than an Intergas or Atag fitted by any random engineer, because Mike has invested the time in learning about them, so his customers will get an informed recommendation, and a high quality installation.

The same applies to all the quality makes, and even , to a degree, to the budget makes. Even a cheap boiler will last better if fitted by someone who understand's it's little foibles.

 

[Grumpy old Plum]

Why not stay with Glow Worm as a mid priced boiler but go for the Ultracom

 

[solutions]

And this is why the best solution is often to choose your installer, and then be guided by them on the product.

An Intergas or Atag boiler fitted by Mike will be a better boiler than an Intergas or Atag fitted by any random engineer, because Mike has invested the time in learning about them, so his customers will get an informed recommendation, and a high quality installation.

The same applies to all the quality makes, and even , to a degree, to the budget makes. Even a cheap boiler will last better if fitted by someone who understand's it's little foibles.

Agree whole heartedly with you both I am Vaillant accredited again because I attended the training course not because I fit them in any great volume. My only issue with Worcester's is that I personally dislike the internal layout on many of their boilers just too tightly packed and I have been to too many pinholed plastic hydraulic assembly's to recommend them to my customers. I do explain to my customers the reasons for my preference and that I have a greenstar 28i junior in my own home and it works faultlessly. The obvious design flaws or periodicly reported manufacturing defects that ocassionaly surface from all sorts of manufacturers aside, the majority of repairs I undertake on modern boilers are as a direct result of poor quality workmanship at install, bad install design or lack of servicing. In many instances installers have plain ignored regs and Mi's.